WTM by looking at the scale pattern possibly a Dendroaspis polylepis Black mamba. Always take a close up pic of the head scales for ID. Do you have a pick of the head?
Remember it is easy to drive over a snake witout knowing.. they make a dash for the dark shadow under the car and then get taken out by the rear wheels...

A black mamba is not so easy to see. In general a Black mamba will move off long before you would see it. On foot in the bush they will seldom let you to get closer than 30 m to them. (unless it didn't see you..)
It is sad that they have such a bad reputation. (but maybe it is better like that) Yes they can be very nasty but they do not deserve the reputation they have.

Mamba rule 1. Don't corner it
Mamba rule 2. Turn around and walk away
If you want to break Mamba rule 1, make sure your last will is in order...

We came across this Black Mamba sunning itself on the S21 in Feb this year.
It didn't seem to worry about our presence and only moved off into the grass after about 10 minutes, nearly scaring a Natal Francolin half to death in the process.

As I reported elsewhere, a 12 foot mamba crossed the Parfuri picnic spot about 6 feet from me - hissing and rearing up. Very impressive - and not what you expect when you turn around from photographing a bird!

Contradictory to popular believe the Black Mamba won't go attack and hunt you down for pure fun. Unless cornered the snake won't bother you much. But corner and harass it and you have the devil himself for a close acquaintance.

Wikipedia wrote:In contrast to all other species in this genus, which are arboreal, black mambas reside in hollow insect mounds, abandoned burrows, and rock crevices. They are diurnal. During the day they actively hunt their prey of small mammals, birds and lizards. They return to the same lair nightly.

When I was a child we had a swing in a tree in the garden of our weekend house in Siteki in the bushveld. A black mamba lived in that tree, but somehow never bothered us. We only discovered this after about three years of going there, but apparently, according to the induna who looked after our place, the mamba had been there for a number of years.

Don't forget to PM any Mod your Kudu nominations for the month.

If you want to list your Park Dates in the YR Thread then please PM me.